Post 29 Build it Journey

Blog Post 29

So Lady Grey is a very beautiful little village and even more so that it is fringed by beautiful mountains and the scenery leading into and surrounding the hamlet is as I have mentioned absolutely stunning. However, if I am to paint a totally honest picture it is that like so many of the towns and villages that I have visited so far they are disintegrating around the edges and things like pavements are literally crumbling away and there are problems with litter especially leading into these country towns. I mention these things not to be surly but in the hope that one day these things can be rectified. This is such a beautiful country with so much promise I just sometimes feel terribly frustrated that things can’t be managed better by those running things. Believe me the vast majority of people across every culture and hue are tremendously kind and generous and we just seem to be being let down by those that purport to lead us. There is hope and let’s remain positive – which I am. So Lady Grey was lovely but it needs work 

I had a very beautiful driving day today visually but goodness me I am doing too many kilometres. It is leaving me feeling pretty washed out as I havedone just short of 800 kms in the past two days. It is a little too much and I need to slow down if I am to go the distance on this trip. Back to good stuff and I can recommend this Northern part of the Eastern Cape to anyone. Every single kilometre is a scenic heaven. We truly live in the most unbelievable country.

First stop was the Best Buy Build It in Sterkspruit owned by the affable Fanie Van Biljon and his lovely wife whom I had the pleasure of meeting. I was also made a cup of tea by manager Keith and that always puts me in a great mood  The Best Buy Build It is still getting ready for opening and I was very impressed with Fanie’s entrepreneurial spirit. I am sure great success lies ahead for this store. Fanie also owns the Cala Build It which I visited later in the day and we managed to go through both store’s listings to see where we could add content and make all the details accurate. A successful visit in one of the more remote parts of our country.

It was then a long but pleasant drive to Elliott. It was so breathtakingly beautiful that I actually stopped the car three or four times to get out and look at the scenery. The rivers in particular are so beautiful around here. In Elliott I met with Conrad the owner of this huge store. It was a great meeting made even more so as I was struggling to find accommodation for the night and Conrad owns a very luxurious B & B in Elliott which I was lucky enough to get to stay in after someone cancelled and sweet and kind manager Nicolette called to say that she had a room.

When I took the phone call I was already on my way to the Cala Build It store where I met the humble and gentle Johan Labuschagne. As I had gone through the stores listing with Fanie we did not have to change anything but I still got on the computer and showed Johan what our site was all about. He liked what he saw which was great for me.

It was then onto Lady Frere to meet with Mike Strydom and another solid and successful visit. I then had the long drive back to Elliott which is on my way to visit the stores I need to visit tomorrow. This is one of the challenges of this trip - the Build It’s are not in one straight line and I am finding that one of the big challenges of the trip is the amount of driving that has to be done. No wonder the wise team at Build It HQ said that I was mad and that I could not cycle the whole way. That I must do a mix of them both. Well with this leg of the trip over tomorrow I look forward to having my bike back with me soon so that I can do the mix which has not been possible these past few weeks as I have just not felt safe to ride on these roads. Call me names if you want but I am a Father first and foremost and I need to be alive to look after my loved ones 

So a few more stores tomorrow which I am looking forward too and then the long drive back to Durban as I have a Doctor’s appointment, my car is booked in for a service and I need to see my Mum.

Happy Days everyone.